Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-05-19
THE THU NDERER."
INTERESTING TALK WITH THE MAN
AGER OF THE MIGHTY TIMES.
Noticeable Features of the Estshlishns snt.
Generous Accom- III odst ions for Editors.
but u >habh' Room for Penny a Lin
er>-Nechanirai Facilities.

.rs-MechaniraI Facilities.
The other day had a long talk with
Dr. Mcdonald. the manager uf The Lon
. don Times. This news paper IS one of the
most exclusive in London. II never di-
Nides its news with any paper, however
remote. The Times is the highest priced
newspaper in the world II i sold at
three pence, or six cents of our money
while every one ut it- principal competi-
tors il sold AT one penny. or two cents of
our money. II steadily holds its own in
spite of this high price
have never seen any newspaper estab-
iiShment which has such combined air
of war Office and monastery Al
though situated in one of the nOiSiest
/ quarters Of the city. when once yuu are
fairly behind its solid walls YOU hear only
a soft. confused murmur of the roar in
the streets. Unlike the greater part of
orr newspaper Offices its space is entirely
occupied lay the newspaper publication
and >taTi. No foreign element i per
mtted Ia occupy the remotcst corner Of
the establishment. No one i permitted
Ia enter the building beyond the domain
oi the business department except he has
a personal acquaintance with the editor
Or a trustworthy letter Of introduction 10
him. Every one in the employment Of
this paper i expected 10 guard al! Of the
regular business proceedings and work of
the Office as il the most trivial matter
We're Il grave state secret.
one or THE ROOMS.
The room where | was received was
large and high. lighted by two great W in
duws devoid of drapery. The walls were u
dull yellow gray, with one picture hanging
thereon. This was of Bull Run Russell. the
| Times famous special correspondent. The
picture must have been painted many
years ag" ~ il i quite dmmed with age
and coal SCOT. Il hangs directly over the
heavy, dark, wooden mantel underneath
which glowed and snapped bright, open,
soft coal fire. There We're half dozen
very heavy mahogany chairs in the room,
upholstered i'll dark green leather. One
Chair had IA mahogany writing leaf on its
arm. The desk of the manager, i'll the
center. WAS very plain and contained but
few papers Back Of it hung great
white chart nf he construction of sentences
id the French language. To the right Of
the desk was a broad. luxurious light gray
green ChntZ covered sofa, large enough
and wide enough TO rest the Cardiff giant.
INV WI ii'l ptN'IlNl iHlN was Il pltlI.
handsome dark book case. with glass doors.
This case was .illed with works Of refer
ence only. The carpet was dark. dull
red The roam WAS almost severe in its
simplicity. and yet il seemed thoroughly
complete and satisfactory.
DIR. McDonald the manager, received
me with cordiality that is unusual for a
publisher to show 10 visitor who calls
,lnripF "a, h.,l,rs H.,
time Than the president of the United
States could reasonably hope 10 obtain
from a New York editor. if he sought a
consultation with him during working
hours. Dr. Mcdonald personally showed
me through The Times establishment iu-
stead of turning me over TO the tender
mercies of messenger. | do not propose
TO give II detailed description of the
mechanism OF this publication office. but
merely 10 note IA few things that struck
my mind. In the first place the editorial
rooms would interest most American
newspaper men. Every prominent writer
on the paper had a large room 10 himself,
furnished in the same style of solid com
fort and simplicity as the manager Office.
In each room sparkled an open fire. In
each there was a library Of reference. In
this monhish solitude, in trout Of a glow
ing fire. with his books and papers about
him, guarded against any possible iutrr-
sion. if ever writer should be inspired to
do good work he surely would he in such
surr,.Gtu-ugs. Bui these writer are not
permitted To select their own subjects.
They are given their subjects and told how
to treat them by the manager. The rest
is mere matter of literary gymnastics.
TIE PENNY LINERS Of hETFEs.
In the visit 10 the editorial rooms we
stopped at one room on one of the upper
ti"ors. This WAS the only shabby looking
room i'll the whole establishment. The
carpet here was worn thr-adhare, The
coverings to the desk were ragged. Ii
was such break in the general character
al the institution thai | invOluntarily
turned toward the doctor. He glanced
quietly al Il cHrelcSsly dressed young man,
who, with silk hat on the back Of his
head, was writing away for dear life, a.
he said in Il low tone of voice. This Is the
penny a liners room. No one who work.
in this room has any regular employment
or connection with The Times -
In other words, the writers who come
here prepare news articles to sell TO You
AT 50 much a line"
Precisely"
They correspond to the space writers
of our offices. Do any of these penny
liners ever graduate from this Kind Of
work into regular employment on The
Times
The manager said with Peculiar empha-
sis: =! might say almost newer
In the composing room there was the
same silence, decOrrm and discipline.
There We're great screens back 0f the
printers 10 protect them and their manu-
script copy from the sight Of casual pass
ers by. The cases are OF dark wood. The
floors are stone. Everywhere excessive
cleanliness and order There is no ldslng-
ing. The printers are Obliged 10 put all
their outside wraps and hats in check
room. No article Of apparel is allowed 10
rest on ANY uf the cases. The somher dig
nifty Of the establishment extends TO the
compusliors, who are not generally regard
ed in newspaper offices as models OF de
Corum. Cabinet ministers could not be
more grave Cr quiet in their work than
these printers. pom the right ot the
composing r. on are the famous Upset
ting machines Of the office. They are
used 10 set up all the matter OF the paper
except the advertisements The manager
says there IL no question about the practi-
cability of the typesetting machines. The
trouble is wholly outside Of the machines
in their heing employed From this in
ferred that il was largely question OF
overcoming the printers objections to
them. The parliamentary debates are
dictated directly from the galleries Of the
houses of parliament through long
sneaking tube to one of the typesetters.
Each tspe~etter can set about one column
au huur. -Crawford's London Letter i'll
New York World.
Col. och,ltree and the Reporters.